Fire exchanged across India-Pakistan border in Kashmir

Pakistani and Indian forces trade fire along LoC in disputed Kashmir region, killing at least nine over past two days.

09 Nov 2016 18:52 GMT

Kashmiris have stepped up their calls for independence from Indian rule as they accuse Indian forces of severe abuses [EPA]

India and Pakistan have accused each other of violating a ceasefire along the Line of Control - the de facto border - separating the two South Asian rivals.

The Indian army said on Wednesday that one of its soldiers was killed by Pakistani sniper fire in the Machil sector of Indian-administered Kashmir. The Indian army said two of its soldiers were killed in a separate Pakistani attack a day earlier in Naushera sector.

Army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia told the AFP news agency that the Indian soldiers retaliated by targeting the Pakistan army posts across the Line of Control, or LoC, that divides the disputed Kashmir region between the two nations.

On Wednesday, Pakistan accused India of a ceasefire violation after at least four of its civilians were killed in cross-border firing.

The dead included a 10-year-old girl and her mother, according to Pakistan's foreign ministry, which said that a senior Indian diplomat was summoned for the "unprovoked ceasefire violation on November 8".

Seven others were also injured in the incident, which occurred in the Khuirata and Battal sectors of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.